On Sunday, the executive committee of the Travis County Democratic Party selected Pooja Sethi to serve out the unexpired term of Katie Naranjo as party chair. Naranjo announced Sethi’s election in an email to party supporters, writing that “Pooja brings years of organizing and policy experience as the Chief of Staff for Texas Rep. Vikki […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inPolice
Updated: Travis County disputes APD statement about initial price tag of magistration agreement
City Council is expected to consider an interlocal agreement with Travis County next week to provide magistration services, including screening of those arrested for a variety of crimes. The reported price tag on that agreement is $9.9 million, although the city had not posted the Council agenda as of Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for the […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin, Round Rock sales tax figures up
The most recent report from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar shows that Austin’s sales tax collections rose to nearly $29.3 million for November, a 2.24 percent increase over last year. Round Rock saw a 6.23 percent increase, rising from about $9 million to $9.6 million, according to the report released Wednesday. Overall, Hegar announced he will […]
Posted inPolice
Virtual magistration pilot now just a ‘trial’
The Austin Public Safety Commission on Monday tabled a resolution aimed at stopping or postponing a proposed pilot program that would eliminate Travis County from the process of magistration for people arrested by Austin officers, including pretrial services. Commissioners learned from APD Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt that the department is now planning to do […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County sued over jail inmate suicide
According to a federal lawsuit filed in late December, an inmate of the Travis County jail who was on suicide watch killed himself in the jail in 2022. Attorney Dean Malone filed suit against Travis County on behalf of the family of Jared “J.J.” Bell, who was taken from a hospital to jail on outstanding […]
Posted inCity Hall
Leslie Pool launches into the final year of a busy decade
Leslie Pool’s ninth year on City Council has been a productive and busy one. She recalls that she started out 2023 with the intention of helping her newly elected colleagues learn the ropes and accomplish their goals. For Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez, affordable housing was an important goal. Each emphasized housing in […]
Posted inCity Hall
In 2024, Paige Ellis will focus on her two main loves: mobility improvements and parks
The past year has been a busy one for City Council Member Paige Ellis, who served as mayor pro tem throughout 2023. She described the extra duties of the position as “a great experience.” Noting that Mayor Kirk Watson is very detail-oriented, Ellis said she never had any question about what needed to be done. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ryan Alter reflects on ‘tangible results’ of his first year in office
When Council Member Ryan Alter was running for office in 2022, he stressed the need for housing affordability, specifically rejecting the slow approach favored by his predecessor. When he came into office in January, he began to work on that issue along with his colleagues. Alter told the Austin Monitor, “I came into office, I […]
Posted inWhispers
Chito Vela running for reelection
Chito Vela, the District 4 City Council member who took over the seat after a special election to replace Greg Casar when he vacated the post to successfully run for Congress, is reaching out to raise funds for his reelection campaign. Vela won the seat two years ago, with the support of the Austin Firefighters […]
Posted inZoning
Council OKs Affordability Unlocked plan despite neighbors’ objections
City Council last week approved a zoning change and neighborhood plan amendment that will allow a developer to build a five-story apartment complex just west of the intersection of South First Street and Eberhart Lane. The vote was 9-0, with Council Member Alison Alter abstaining and Council Member Ryan Alter absent. Because there were nine […]
Posted inCity Council
Three Council members call for Middle East cease-fire
Responding to calls from the community seeking a City Council resolution supporting a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez released a statement Thursday calling for peace. The statement reads: “Whether it be Palestinians, Israelis or Austinites, innocent civilians deserve to live in peace. Our hearts break for […]
Posted inWhispers
Truelove retires to take post in Kyle
Rosie Truelove, director of Austin’s Housing Department, is retiring at the end of December after 25 years with the city. But she’s not going to quit working: She has accepted a job with the city of Kyle as the director of administrative services. In a post about her retirement, Truelove notes that she started her […]